MUMBAI: Indian television viewers definitely
have a penchant for fortune telling sessions! Billed as the complete
show on astrology, etc's Kahani Kismat Ki is completing a
marathon run of 1,000 episodes on 10 December 2002.

Kahani Kismat Ki has earned the distinction of being 'the
most watched' and 'the longest running astrological show' on any
satellite channel, an official release says.

Yielding to the viewers' demand, Kahani Kismat Ki had to
be changed its duration from a 15-minute show to a half an hour
show within three months of its launch. After almost three years
of continuous telecast, the show is still the top-ranking programme
amongst all the music channels, the release says.

In an effort to make the programme more interactive, etc also incorporated
SMS facility in this show. Viewers can type the code 'ETCKISMET'
in the message box of a mobile phone; write their answers to the
question asked during the show and send it to number '303'. This
enables them to participate in the show and win prizes.

The channel attributes the popularity of Kahani Kismat Ki
to the fact that it is not based on any particular religion. Show
presenter Arya Guru Bhagwan Das talks about the importance of spirituality
and many festivals of several religions. According to him, astrology
is a science and should be treated with the same respect.